Histological study on the ossification of the yellow ligaments.

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Non-ossified (28 cases; 6 to 70 years old) and ossified (8 cases) yellow ligaments were histopathologically investigated to clarify the mechanism of the ossification of the spinal ligament.In the non-ossified group, the size of the collagen and elastic fibers had gradually become larger with the maturing process at the light microscopic level. Electron microscopic investigation revealed that the mature elastic fibers with poorly developed microfibrils increased in number and size. The microfibrils decreased in amount with increasing age, being replaced by structureless masses less stained with tannic acid techique. This observation was remarkable in the older-aged group. In the ossified group, however, elastic fibers became less numerous. On the contrary, the cartilage tissue constituted the predominant structure bordering on the ossifying zone. Electron microscopically, the periphery of the remained elastic fibers consisted of a large amount of the amorphous substances, of which appearance was compatible with that of the senescent group.
西日本整形・災害外科学会の論文